Fantasy as a Thematic Vehicle
The Supernatural as Metaphor
Although E. M. Forster is widely known for his realistic novels, his short stories (The Celestial Omnibus, The Eternal Moment) are almost entirely devoted to fantasy, mythology, and the supernatural. This is a brilliant strategy for short story writers who want to tackle dense themes in an innovative way.
đ The Mask of Fantasy
Forster used fantasy in his short stories to convey exactly the same realistic messages as his long novels. By introducing the impossible, he forced characters (and the reader) to confront the rigidity of society and the pettiness of everyday life.
1. Invasion of the Supernatural into the Everyday
The technique consists of building an extremely common and plausible setting with mundane characters, and then introducing a disruptive and supernatural element (a poltergeist, a Greek deity, a siren) without prior notice.
- The Goal: This sudden contrast breaks the charactersâ conventions. How a character reacts to the impossible reveals their true essence â whether it is open-hearted (âconnectingâ) or cynical denial.
2. Mythic Symbols vs. The âRealâ World
While pure realism can make a short story feel like a daily account with no great climax, mythology embeds the plot with a sense of ancestral urgency. In âThe Story of a Panicâ, for example, Forster uses mythic possession by the god Pan to contrast a boyâs instinctive behavior with the repressive and pedantic posture of English adults.
âïž How to use it in Literary Contests
Many contest-winning short stories embrace magical realism or fantastic intrusion because this technique allows writers to explore the deepest corners of human psychology through visual and narrative metaphor.
- Metaphor as action: If your protagonist is afraid of romantic commitment, donât just write a story with dialogues about it. Have something invisible literally destroy the furniture whenever the subject is brought up, punishing the absence of emotional truth.
- Breaking safety: No reader is âsafeâ when the supernatural is part of the equation. By inserting magic into an environment that seems hyper-realistic, you guarantee the unpredictability needed to maintain the storyâs suspense.
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